when they became villains [draco malfoy] {book 2}

Year 6 - 161

Astrid tried not to think about it but she knew the time would come soon. It was only a little over two months that were left until the official end of the school year and she knew her and Malfoy were close to completing mending the cabinet. Right before he was sent to the Hospital Wing for several weeks, they had gotten a random cat they had snagged in the hallways through the cabinet and they had been planning on sending an even bigger animal. Neither wanted to say it but it was really close until they would actually have to practice on either of them. 

Without him, Astrid hadn't dared try more of the cabinet-mending. Too scared to somehow mess up all that they had been working towards, she avoided the room altogether, instead, spending her free time plotting out her big escape or paying visits to Malfoy.

In fact, the latter was just what she was doing then, walking down the corridor of Hogwarts, chin held just as high as it usually was as she looked down on everyone passing her. In her platform shoes, Astrid rose from her already rather tall 5'9 to being a whole 5'11, taller than most boys in their school. She could not deny she loved the feeling. Malfoy was still taller than her, even when she wore those platforms of hers, and at the moment, he was the only bloke that mattered. Not that anything would change if he suddenly shrank, though she had to admit it would be rather boring not being able to play the power game in that way anymore.

Walking down the corridor no one could see, but inside her heart dropped a little. She would be leaving and he wouldn't even get to find out why. Despite all they went through that year, Astrid knew she would miss him and she had no doubt he would miss her too. Astrid just hoped having her disappear right after they finished their task wouldn't hurt him too much...

Speaking of... just as Astrid rounded the last corner to strut down the corridor at the end of which the Hospital Wing was, she almost bumped into John. Astrid had stopped in her tracks just at the last moment. She had actually been looking for him earlier that day.

"Oh, hello," John was the first to regain from the initial shock of almost collapsing into one another, "how have you been?"

"Good, good," Astrid nodded. "How are you?"

She glanced behind his back to see the few Hufflepuffs he had been conversing with cast her nasty glares. John glanced behind his back too and rolled his eyes before kicking one of them over his bum and telling them all to skrat. Astrid chuckled softly for she had never seen this side of John Hewitt. His friends mocked him as they left, but he paid them no mind.

"I'm good. How is-" the boy gulped, "you know... the-"

It's worse but also better..?

"No, no, I'm over that," Astrid looked down, twirling her rings to feign nervousness, "Well, better at least." She looked up with a shy smile, feigning her 'thank you's. "You telling the girls helped. They've been helping..." Actually, it had only complicated things, but he was not to know that. "But I do have another favour I have to ask of you."

"Astrid..." John pressed his lips into a thin line, "I will not-"

"No, no," the girl shook her head, "nothing of that sort. Not again. I'm over the worst part of it, thank you." That actually wasn't a lie. "But I need to grow the Floo plant. Like really need to. The seeds and instructions. I don't have money to repay but I can think of something else and-"

"What for?" John crossed his eyes suspiciously.

And now, Ash, just like you rehearsed. "Please don't tell this to anyone, not even Mills, but I've been really needing to talk to my mum eye to eye," she tried to press on her emotions as hard as she could. Astrid thought about how she actually did miss her mum and concentrated on the feeling of that. The girl barely suppressed a cheer when she did feel her eyes beginning to water. "About things... I think you would understand." Quickly she wiped the single tear that squeezed out of her eyes, and blinked up at the ceiling, pretending to calm her emotions. "I found a way to get to McGonagall's office Floo Network but when I asked, she didn't let me visit home, so I really need to make the powder."